Acts, 22

1. 'My brothers, my fathers, listen to what I have to say to you in my defence.'

1. "Brethren and fathers, hear the defense which I now make before you."

2. When they realised he was speaking in Hebrew, the silence was even greater than before.

2. And when they heard that he addressed them in the Hebrew language, they were the more quiet. And he said:

3. 'I am a Jew', Paul said, 'and was born at Tarsus in Cilicia. I was brought up here in this city. It was under Gamaliel that I studied and was taught the exact observance of the Law of our ancestors. In fact, I was as full of duty towards God as you all are today.

3. "I am a Jew, born at Tarsus in Cili'cia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gama'li-el, educated according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as you all are this day.

4. I even persecuted this Way to the death and sent women as well as men to prison in chains

4. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women,

5. as the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify. I even received letters from them to the brothers in Damascus, which I took with me when I set off to bring prisoners back from there to Jerusalem for punishment.

5. as the high priest and the whole council of elders bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brethren, and I journeyed to Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.

6. 'It happened that I was on that journey and nearly at Damascus when in the middle of the day a bright light from heaven suddenly shone round me.

6. "As I made my journey and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone about me.

7. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"

7. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, `Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?'

8. I answered, "Who are you, Lord?" and he said to me, "I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting."

8. And I answered, `Who are you, Lord?' And he said to me, `I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.'

9. The people with me saw the light but did not hear the voice which spoke to me.

9. Now those who were with me saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me.

10. I said, "What am I to do, Lord?" The Lord answered, "Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told what you have been appointed to do."

10. And I said, `What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, `Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.'

11. Since the light had been so dazzling that I was blind, I got to Damascus only because my companions led me by the hand.

11. And when I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.

12. 'Someone called Ananias, a devout follower of the Law and highly thought of by all the Jews living there,

12. "And one Anani'as, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there,

13. came to see me; he stood beside me and said, "Brother Saul, receive your sight." Instantly my sight came back and I was able to see him.

13. came to me, and standing by me said to me, `Brother Saul, receive your sight.' And in that very hour I received my sight and saw him.

14. Then he said, "The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see the Upright One and hear his own voice speaking,

14. And he said, `The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Just One and to hear a voice from his mouth;

15. because you are to be his witness before all humanity, testifying to what you have seen and heard.

15. for you will be a witness for him to all men of what you have seen and heard.

16. And now why delay? Hurry and be baptised and wash away your sins, calling on his name."

16. And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name.'

17. 'It happened that, when I got back to Jerusalem, and was praying in the Temple, I fell into a trance

17. "When I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance

18. and then I saw him. "Hurry," he said, "leave Jerusalem at once; they will not accept the testimony you are giving about me."

18. and saw him saying to me, `Make haste and get quickly out of Jerusalem, because they will not accept your testimony about me.'

19. "Lord," I answered, "they know that I used to go from synagogue to synagogue, imprisoning and flogging those who believed in you;

19. And I said, `Lord, they themselves know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believed in thee.

20. and that when the blood of your witness Stephen was being shed, I, too, was standing by, in full agreement with his murderers, and in charge of their clothes."

20. And when the blood of Stephen thy witness was shed, I also was standing by and approving, and keeping the garments of those who killed him.'

21. Then he said to me, "Go! I am sending you out to the gentiles far away." '

21. And he said to me, `Depart; for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'"

22. So far they had listened to him, but at these words they began to shout, 'Rid the earth of the man! He is not fit to live!'

22. Up to this word they listened to him; then they lifted up their voices and said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he ought not to live."

23. They were yelling, waving their cloaks and throwing dust into the air,

23. And as they cried out and waved their garments and threw dust into the air,

24. and so the tribune had him brought into the fortress and ordered him to be examined under the lash, to find out the reason for the outcry against him.

24. the tribune commanded him to be brought into the barracks, and ordered him to be examined by scourging, to find out why they shouted thus against him.

25. But when they had strapped him down Paul said to the centurion on duty, 'Is it legal for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and has not been brought to trial?'

25. But when they had tied him up with the thongs, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman citizen, and uncondemned?"

26. When he heard this the centurion went and told the tribune; 'Do you realise what you are doing?' he said. 'This man is a Roman citizen.'

26. When the centurion heard that, he went to the tribune and said to him, "What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen."

27. So the tribune came and asked him, 'Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?' Paul answered 'Yes'.

27. So the tribune came and said to him, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" And he said, "Yes."

28. To this the tribune replied, 'It cost me a large sum to acquire this citizenship.' 'But I was born to it,' said Paul.

28. The tribune answered, "I bought this citizenship for a large sum." Paul said, "But I was born a citizen."

29. Then those who were about to examine him hurriedly withdrew, and the tribune himself was alarmed when he realised that he had put a Roman citizen in chains.

29. So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him instantly; and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.

30. The next day, since he wanted to know for sure what charge the Jews were bringing, he freed Paul and gave orders for a meeting of the chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin; then he brought Paul down and set him in front of them.

30. But on the morrow, desiring to know the real reason why the Jews accused him, he unbound him, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to meet, and he brought Paul down and set him before them.